Plow type glue gun



March 3l, 1964 J, |=vl FOX 3,126,574

PLOW TYPE GLUE GUN Filed March 2l, 1965 fifty.;

United States Patent() 3,126,574 PLOW TYPE GLUE GUN John I. Fox,Monrovia, Calif., 'assigner to The Aro Corporation, Bryan, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,890 6 Claims. (Cl.15-580) This invention relates to a plow type glue gun or one in whichthe surface to be glued such as the aps of a carton contact a controllever of the glue gun for opening the glue flow control valve thereofthus supplying glue only when a carton is passing beneath the gun.

One object of the invention -is to provide a glue gun of the typedisclosed which is comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufactureyet operates efficiently to perform plow type gluing operations.

Another object is to provide a glue gun which has a body member providedwith a plurality of spaced-apart glue discharge ports arranged laterallyof the direction of travel of the surface to be glued relative to thebody member, a glue distributing passageway supplying glue to thespaced-apart glue discharge ports, a glue supply passageway for the gluedistributing passageway and a novel means for effectively defiecting theglue and distributing it substantially equally throughout the length ofthe glue distributing passageway so that it flows equally from the gluedischarge ports.

Still another object is to provide a combination of glue supplypassageway supplying glue in the direction of movement of the surface tobe glued, and a lateral glue distributing passageway communicatingtherewith, the glue supply passageway entering one side of the gluedistributing passageway and the opposite side thereof being providedwith a spherical depression to effect deection and distribution of theglue in the glue distributing passageway.

A further object is to provide the spherical depression so shaped anddimensioned as to secure substantially equal distribution throughout thedistributing passageway.

Still a further object is to provide the body member with a glue flowcontrol valve and a depressible control means for operating the valve,such means being adapted to be depressed by contact with a surface to beglued as such surface moves past the body member.

An additional object is to provide the depressible control means in theform of a pivoted lever having a plurality of tines adapted to Contactsuch surface and to depress thereinto if the surface is soft, therebyproviding a degree of automatic regulation for the control valve of theglue gun depending on the character of the surface being glued.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the Various parts of myplow type glue gun, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained,as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated in detail on the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective View of a plow type glue gun embodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 to showinternal details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2 showingthe distributing action within the glue gun;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showingthe glue gun in operation to glue a surface passing therebeneath;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 4 showing certain criticaldimensions, and

3,126,574 Patented Mar. 3l, 1964 ICC FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective viewof a portion of a control lever for the glue iiow control Valve of myglue gun.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate a body member which may be formed of metal or a suitableplastic. The body member 10 has an elongated surface 12 provided with aplurality of spaced-apart glue discharge ports 14 as shown lin FIG. 2.The surface 12 extends laterally of the direction of travel of a surfaceto be glued as will hereinafter appear. The ports 14 connect with a gluedistributing passageway 16 extending laterally with respect to a gluesupply passageway 18 that connects with one side of the passageway 16 asshown in FIG. 3. The open ends of the passageway 16 are provided withclosure plugs 17 whereby the glue from the passageway 16 is dischargedonly through the ports 14.

I have found that the problem of substantially equal distribution of theglue from the supply passageway 18 to the distributing passageway 16 sothat there is substantially equal flow of glue from the ports 14 posessomewhat of a problem. To solve this problem I provide a sphericaldepression 22 which, as shown in FIG. 4 by arrows, deflects the glue sothat is is substantially equally distributed throughout the two branchesof the passageway 16 providing they are substantially no longer thanapproximately 3 inches. I have also found the radius of the sphericaldepression 22 somewhat critical, most efficient operation beingexperienced when substantially equal in radius to the diameter of thesupply passageway 18. Referring to FIG. 6, diameter D and radius R areindicated, and one is the equal of the other to illustrate this area ofcriticality. The relative dimensions may vary plus or minus 10 or 15percent but deviation beyond these variations produce inefficientdistribution.

To provide the spherical depression 22, a constructional problem isposed which I solved by forming the depression in a plug 20 which plugsthe outer end of the passageway 18 drilled into the body 10. It may besealed therein with solder or the like, or may be a press tit.

For controlling the flow of glue to the supply passageway 13 I provide avalve seat sleeve 24, a ball valve 26 normally seated thereon by avalveseating spring 2S and a spring plug 30 backing the spring 23. Apassageway 32 communicates an inlet 34 with the upper end of the valveseat sleeve 24 so that when the valve 26 is unseated therefrom glue mayflow into the passageway 18. As shown in FIG. l a supply nipple 36 isconnected to the inlet 34 and a suitable glue supply pipe or hose may beconnected therewith.

For unseating the valve 26 I provide a control lever 449 pivoted at 42and having an adjusting screw 44 adapted to contact a valve actuatingpin 38 interposed between the screw 44 and the ball 26. The lever 40 hasa plurality of tines 46 adapted to enter slots 43 of the body member 1dwhen the valve is opened, and a pair of wings S0 which are adapted tocontact the work being glued such as a carton wall 52 as shown lin FIG.5. The glue gun is so adjusted relative to the carton that the valve isopened as determined by the setting of the adjusting screw 44 wheneverthe work passes under the glue gun in the direction of the arrow 54shown in FIG. 5. If the work is somewhat soft (such as a corrugatedcardboard carton as shown) the tines 46 depress thereinto and the gluegun is adjusted with relation to the work to compensate for suchdepression and secure the desired full opening of the valve 26.

To prevent the dripping of glue from the ports 14, the amount of gluemust be controlled so that there is a minimum of reservoir space in thevalve and discharge port assembly. It will be noted that the ports 14are relatively small and thereby produce capillary action to cause theglue to be removed from the distributing passageway 16 to the dischargeports 14 so that when the valve is closed the glue in the ports recedesto the passageway 16. A little bead of glue on each port prevents airfrom getting into the ports and hardening the glue, and when the surface52 comes in contact with the glue beads they are knocked off and thegluing operation promptly commences. These glue beads will protectagainst glue hardening for live to ten seconds on fast setting glues.Thus a continuous gluing operation on successive cartons or the likeautomatically conveyed past the glue gun can be readily accomplished.

Another area of criticality I have found in the combined volume of theports 14 with respect to the distributing passageway 16. This combinedvolume needs to be about two percent larger than the volume of thepassageway 16, and if much larger, the effect is a reservoir whichpermits dripping. The volume of the glue in the passageway 16 issufficient to supply the ports 14 at a rate which gives blobs of gluerather than continuous stripes thereof thereby providing instantaneoustack and faster paperfailure bond.

The adjusting screw 44 gives a variation in the distance the controllever 40 is depressed and the valve thereby opened. The lever is movedthrough greater distances when gluing hard materials than when gluingsoft materials. Therefore for soft material a larger depression distanceis employed. The tines as disclosed, being located between the spacedports 14, provides an arrangement in which there is no interruption ofthe flow in the area of the tines. A glue gun of the character disclosedsaves glue and is relatively easy to maintain and keep clean.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my plow type glue gun without departing from the real spiritand purpose of my invention, and is is my intention to cover by myclaims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalentswhich may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a plow type glue gun, a body member having an elongated surfaceprovided with a plurality of spacedapart glue discharge ports, said bodymember having a glue distributing passageway with which said gluedischarge ports connect for receiving glue therefrom, and a glue supplypassageway communicating with said glue distributing passageway atsubstantially the center thereof, said glue supply passageway meetingsaid glue distributing passageway at one side thereof, the opposite sideof said glue distributing passageway having a spherical depressionagainst which the stream of glue from said glue supply passagewayimpinges, said depression being thereby effective to deflect the glueand distribute it substantially equally throughout the length of saidglue distributing passageway.

2. A glue gun in accordance with claim l wherein said sphericaldepression is formed on a radius substantially equal to the diameter ofsaid glue supply passageway.

3. A glue gun in accordance with claim 2 wherein a glue flow controlvalve is provided in said body member and a depressible control lever isprovided for operating said valve, said control lever being adapted tobe depressed by contact with a surface to be glued as such surface movespast said lever.

4. A glue gun in accordance with claim l wherein the combined volume ofsaid glue discharge ports is slightly greater than the volume of saidglue distributing passageway.

5. A glue gun in accordance with claim 1 wherein a glue flow controlvalve is provided in said body member and a depressible control means isprovided for operating said valve, said control means being adapted tobe depressed by contact with a surface to be glued as such surface movespast said body member.

6. A glue gun in accordance with claim 5 wherein said depressiblecontrol means comprises a pivoted lever having a plurality of tinesadapted to contact such surface.

No references cited.

1. IN A PLOW TYPE GLUE GUN, A BODY MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED SURFACEPROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACEDAPART GLUE DISCHARGE PORTS, SAID BODYMEMBER HAVING A GLUE DISTRIBUTING PASSAGEWAY WITH WHICH SAID GLUEDISCHARGE PORTS CONNECT FOR RECEIVING GLUE THERFROM, SAND A GLUE SUPPLYPASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID GLUE DISTRIBUTING PASSAGEWAY ATSUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER THEREOF, SAID GLUE CUPPLY PASSAGEWAY MEETINGSAID GLUE DISTRIBUTING PASSAGEWAY AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, THE OPPOSITE SIDEOF SAID GLUE DISTRIBUTING PASSAGEWAY HAVING A SPHERICAL DEPRESSIONAGAINST WHICH THE STREAM OF GLUE FROM SAID GLUE SUPPLY PASSAGEWAYIMPINGES, SAID DEPRESSION BEING THERBY EFFECTIVE TO DEFLECT THE GLUE ANDDISTRIBUITE IT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID GLUEDISTRIBUTING PASSAGEWAY.